At first, you may not think technology is very eco-friendly, but emerging trends in smart home tech are looking to turn that around. Not only is home automation an effective way to reduce your home’s energy and resource usage, it can also cut down…

Comments Off on These gorgeous glass homes can pop up in 8 hours for under $50k

Meet ÖÖD , a gorgeous prefab abode that doesn’t compromise privacy for stellar views. Clad in mirrored glass, this sleek tiny home blends into its surroundings and offers all the living essentials built into a compact 18-square-meter footprint. Designed primarily for use as pop-up hotel rooms, the moveable and modular ÖÖD has far-reaching applications and is even under development for off-grid solutions. Designed and manufactured in Estonia, the ÖÖD houses were specifically developed for hotel usage and holiday housing. Its small footprint allows for easy installation anywhere in Estonia without the need for a building permit. Each unit accommodates two to three people and can be slotted seamlessly into urban and rural landscapes. Built primarily from steel, insulated glass , and thermally treated wood, the ÖÖD home features a studio layout with a large custom-made bed, kitchenette, living area, and bathroom. Home automation is built in as is adjustable floor heating and LED lighting. Homeowners would only need to hook the unit up to an Internet cable, water, sewage, and an electricity supply though off-grid solutions are currently being developed. An LG heat pump with moisture separator provides heating and cooling. Related: Prefab and low-budget CabinCube Hotels can pop up almost anywhere Installation of the ÖÖD only takes eight hours to complete. According to Nordica Flight Magazine, each unit costs 33,000 euros (VAT excluded) and includes custom-built Estonian furniture. ÖÖD homes have only been installed in Estonia thus far—the first unit debuted last fall—but the company plans to expand to international markets. + ÖÖD Images by Maris Tomba and Anton Toomere

Henning Larsen Architects has won a competition for Toronto’s new 500,000-square-foot Etobicoke Civic Centre. Designed in collaboration with Adamson Associates Architects and PMA Landscape Architects , the winning proposal will have a focus on sustainability and feature municipal offices, public gathering spaces, a library branch, recreation center, and a child care center. Build Toronto and the City of Toronto hosted the design competition and evaluated proposals on their environmental sustainability, flexibility, community identity, and pedestrian scale. The competition jury commended the winning team’s proposal for its “flexibility and an iconic design well suited for the community.” The winning design also demonstrates an ability to achieve a net zero target and builds on the context and history of the Etobicoke community. Related: Designers float plan to cover Toronto’s CN Tower with clip-on condos The proposed Etobicoke Civic Centre will break down the development’s large scale using different sized building volumes that help preserve a comfortable pedestrian-friendly scale. Site analysis and local thermal studies also informed building placement to protect against the summer solar heat gain and winter winds. Comfortable microclimates are improved further with green roofs and landscaping, and the total effect will prolong the comfortable outdoor season by up to five weeks, said Henning Larsen Architects. Via ArchDaily Images via Henning Larsen Architects

Could the skyscraper of the future dispense homes like a vending machine? Growing and adapting to the Tokyo’s housing demand, the Pod Skyscraper is designed to be constantly under construction – residents can order a ready-to-use modular dwelling manufactured by 3D printers installed on the top floor of the building. The innovative skyscraper, designed by Haseef Rafiei , received honorable mention at this year’s eVolo Skyscraper Competition . Tokyo is known for robotics , automation, and minimal living. Drawing upon these qualities, Rafiei created a futuristic variant on the famed Nagakin Capsule Tower . Inspired by vending machines in Tokyo, this vast framed structure houses a large number of pods equipped with basic amenities for residential and commercial use. Related: Incredible farming skyscraper could fight poverty and feed the world The pods are manufactured on-site, transported by cranes and plugged onto the megastructure. An automated system calculates the position for each pod, while disused or faulty pods are dismantled, kept in storage or brought back to the printer – creating a closed loop. Users can choose the amenities included in the design and can purchase several pods to create a larger living space. In addition to residential use, the pods can also function as small office and commercial spaces. + Haseef Rafiei + eVolo

As new technology makes the world smarter, our homes are being transformed by gadgets and fully integrated home automation systems designed to optimize our domestic lives. And yet even now when most of us are familiar with the Nest thermostat and…

Comments Off on Friends and family help repurpose a concrete carport into an inspiring home for an ALS patient

This temporary residence facilitates both physical and mental accessibility for a client diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). With the help of more than a 100 friends and family of the client, design studio Wim Goes Architectuur repurposed an existing concrete carport, which proved to be more suitable than the existing house, and created an environment that focuses on hope instead of sickness. Once the client no longer needs the space, most of the construction materials can be recycled or reused, celebrating the circle of life. The architects met with the client’s ergotherapist to figure out a solution that would work best for the client’s limiting circumstances. They converted the existing concrete carport into a barrier-free space built with the help of more than 100 friends and family members, and tutoring from professionals experienced with sustainable heating , ventilation, and home automation . Related: Assisted living home replicates a friendly American neighborhood to help treat patient memory loss After demolition, 83% of the project – straw and loam – will be used for fertilizing the landscape. All the technical equipment is returnable, while glass, metal and wood elements can be recycled . The entire project, including its construction, was designed to celebrate the circle of life. + Wim Goes Architectuur Via Archdaily Photos by Filip Dujardin

If you want to make your home more comfortable, livable, and energy-efficient, home automation is for you. One fantastic and affordable example of home automation is the FlipFlic , a solar-powered device that adjusts your window blinds based on sunlight, temperature , or customized app settings. Small and elegant, the FlipFlic is easy to install and can be attached to any existing window blinds—vertical or horizontal—and is outfitted with sensors that automatically respond to changing conditions. The device also comes with a smartphone app so that you can open or close your blinds instantly with just a tap of a finger. Want to get your hands on FlipFlic? Head over to their Kickstarter campaign where you can get a FlipFlic at a special early-bird price. + FlipFlic The article above was submitted to us by an Inhabitat reader. Want to see your story on Inhabitat ? Send us a tip by following this link . Remember to follow our instructions carefully to boost your chances of being chosen for publishing!